Von Löwen Designs

Absorption (plant): The entrance or taking-in of a chemical or nutrient into the plant.

Accent plant: Any plant, which, by its placement or characteristics, differs from the surrounding landscape. Differs from a specimen plant in that a specimen will usually stand-alone. Accent plants are used to break up monotony, vary the height of shrub border or direct attention to an area of the garden.

Acid/Alkaline soil: Refers to the chemical makeup of a particular soil and is measured in terms of pH. A pH of seven means the soil is neutral. A pH below seven indicates acidity and a pH above seven indicates alkalinity. Regions with light rainfall tend to have alkaline soils. Some plant species prefer a specific pH.

Actual amount: That specific amount of an ingredient contained in a fertilizer product or pesticide. Usually expressed as a percentage.

Adjusted water budget: Quantity of water used to maintain a landscape based on evapotranspiration and area; adjusted to reflect an efficiency standard. See Water budget.

Aeration (soil): The movement or exchange of air between the soil and the atmosphere.

Aerification (soil): The mechanical removal of soil cores to improve soil air exchange.

Aerobic: The presence of air (oxygen) within an environment, in contrast to anaerobic conditions, which is the absence of oxygen.

Amine: A phenoxy herbicide formulation that is less prone to vaporizing and potentially moving off-site than the ester form. Also see phenoxy herbicides, ester.

Anaerobic: The absence of air (or free oxygen) within an environment. See aerobic.

Analysis: Determination of chemical components.

Annual plant: A plant completing its normal growth cycle in one year or less.

Annual, summer: A plant that completes its normal growth cycle, beginning from seed, in one growing season.

Annual, winter: A plant that begins growth in the fall, survives over winter, flowers, produces seed and dies the following season.

Aphid: Soft-bodied, tiny (up to one-fifth of an inch) insects that suck juices from the plant stems and leaves. Damage includes: deformed leaves, flowers or fruit; wilting; weak plant; and plant death. Also called plant lice.

Applcation rate: The rate water is applied to a designated area by irrigation. Measurement is in inches-per-area for sprinklers and gallons-per-area for drip irrigation. See Water budget.

Arid climate: Climate characterized by less than 10 inches of annual rainfall.

Aspect: The orientation – north, south, east, west – of a plant’s location. Aspect significantly influences the survival and growth behavior of a plant. See Exposure and Microclimate.

Autotrophs: Organisms capable of making all necessary food for survival from various raw materials. In plants, this occurs through the process of photosynthesis.

Backfill: Soil mix used to fill the plant hole after the plant is placed. Backfill often contains the excavated soil and necessary soil amendments. See Soil.

Balled and burlapped: Nursery stock shrubs and trees sold with a large ball of soil around the roots, wrapped in burlap to hold the rootball together, which acts as a temporary container until planted in the ground.

Barrier plant: A plant, which by its characteristics would act as a barrier to pedestrian movement. Plants in this group generally have thorns, a dense growth pattern, and/or can tolerate a planting treatment in which they would be planted very densely.

Beneficial rainfall: See Effective precipitation.

Berm: Mounded earth forms useful in screening views and providing a sense of enclosure.

Biennial: A plant whose normal growth cycle spans two growing seasons. Many biennials produce roots and a cluster of leaves near the surface of the ground the first year; flower, produce seed and die the second year.

Biome: An area generally defined as being controlled by climate and distinguished by a dominance of certain types of plants and animals. See Life zone.

Blade (leaf): The flattened portion of the leaf projecting outward from the main shoot axis and located above the sheath.

Blend (seed): A combination of two or more varieties (cultivars) of a single turfgrass species.

Botanical name: The genus and species names of a plant. See Plant classification.

Bract: Modified leaves that grow just below the flower, flower cluster or inflorescence of grass spikes. In many cases the flowers are insignificant. Most flowers do not have bracts. Often bracts are green, but sometimes are colorful, such as bougainvillea and poinsettia.

Breakdown processes: Refers to the chemical and/or microbial actions in the soil responsible for the decomposition of various organic residues, including most pesticides.

Broadcast application: Uniform distribution of a pesticide or fertilizer over an entire area.

Broadleafed: A broadleafed weed is any weed that is not a grass. A broadleafed evergreen is a plant that holds its foliage year-round, but is not a conifer.

Bud: A flower bud develops into a flower. A growth bud is at the end of a stem or along the sides of a stem and will develop into new leafy growth.

Buffer zone (or strip): DMZ Zone. Generally considered to be an unmanaged area of vegetation along a shoreline to help slow down and filter runoff before entering the water body and prevent soil erosion.

Bulb: Fleshy scales that are actually modified leaf structures that store energy and protect the developing plant, usually underground. Some are fleshy and some are papery coverings. An onion is one example.

Bunch-type growth: Plant development through the formation of clusters of tillers (shoots) at or near the soil surface. Rhizomes or stolons are absent.

Burn: Chemical burns caused by over fertilizing.

Calibrating: The process of checking a mechanical applicator, such as a fertilizer spreader, to insure that it will accurately deliver the right amount of material to the right amount of area.

Caliper: Industry-standardized unit of measurement for determining tree size by trunk diameter six inches above natural soil elevation.

Carbohydrate: Chemical compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Examples include starch, sugar, and cellulose.

Catkin: A pendulous, spike-like, often drooping, flower cluster. Catkins are either male or female, and both can appear on one plant or each on separate plants.

Chilling requirement: Refers to the necessary winter chill needed for some deciduous perennials, shrubs and trees to grow and bloom well. Chilling requirement is measured by the hours for temperatures to remain below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chlorosis: A condition in which a leaf appears more yellow than it should, especially between the veins, while the veins remain green. Chlorosis is often caused by an iron deficiency in the soil.

Classification: An assignment of plants with shared characteristics to a system of shared categories. The categories descend in order from the most commonly shared traits to the more specific. The following example for Rosa woodsii and lists the main categories used in classification (there are numerous subcategories and groupings):

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Spermataphyta
Class: Angiospermae
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Rosa
Species: woodsii

Clay soil: Refers to the atomic arrangement of minerals that form the structure of a soil. Clay soils are composed of extremely fine minerals, usually silicates of aluminum and/or iron and magnesium. Clay soils have an affinity for water and are dense, heavy and sticky.

Clippings: Leaf blades and, in some cases, stems and sheaths, cut off by mowing. Decompose readily due to their relatively high water content and generally simple chemical compounds.

Cool-season turfgrass: Turfgrass species whose growth is favored during the cooler portions (60º – 75ºF) of the growing season (spring and fall); may become dormant, injured or even killed during hot, dry weather.

Common name: Plant names that are “made up.” Common names are regional and may be descriptive. Any given plant may have dozens of common names.

Compaction (of soil): Increase in soil density through destruction of its pore space, as by excessive traffic or working the soil especially when its wet. Can be hard and almost impenetrable when dry.

Complete fertilizer: A plant food consisting of all three primary nutrient elements – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or (NPK). Fertilizer packaging has these three elements listed as percentages, always in the same order – (NPK).

Complete metamorphosis: An insect life cycle going through the 4 distinct stages of egg, larva, pupa and adult. The larva stages include several important turfgrass pests associated with caterpillars, grubs and maggots.

Compost: The end product of the decomposition process of organic materials. Used as a soil additive, not a nutrient, compost is an amendment that improves the structure of the soil.

Cone: A coniferous fruit having woody, leathery or fleshy scales, each protecting one seed.

Conifer plants: Bearing their seeds in cones or modified cone-like structures. These plants are often called evergreens, although this is not always the case. Examples would be larch, juniper and pine.

Contact herbicide: A weed killer that kills primarily by contact with plant tissues.

Conversion factor: A mathematical relation generally used in reference to water budgeting. A decimal fraction used to convert inches of evapotranspiration to gallons (0.623) or to convert inches of evapotranspiration to 100 cubic feet of water (0.00083). See Water budget.

Cool season grass: Grass that does not ordinarily lose its color unless the average air temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees C) for an extended period of time. It grows actively in cool weather and more slowly in heat, and is not usually damaged by subfreezing temperatures.

Corm: Modified underground stem capable of producing roots, leaves and flowers during the growing season. Corms store nutrients in the solid center core. Gladiolus and crocus are two corm plants.

Crop: In this definition, crop refers to percent by weight of all seeds contained in a seed package normally considered to be grown as an agriculture crop, including hay.

Crown: A tightly compressed stem-like structure or growing point that pushes new leaves upward as they form and grow. In lawn grasses it is located at the base of the plant at or near the soil line. The location of the crown allows regular mowing to be done while not compromising the plants ability to regrow.

Crown injury: Permanent damage to the leaf-bearing portion of a plant. Crown injury is often caused by severe temperature changes, winter desiccation, hail, insects or disease.

Cultipacker seeder: A mechanical seeder that prepares the seedbed just ahead of placing the seeds at a shallow depth followed by firming the soil around the seed. This is a rather large unit adapted for use as a tractor pull-behind or rear-mounted unit.

Cultivar: A group of cultivated plants distinguished by various features such as growth habit or leaf form that, when reproduced through seed or vegetative means, retain their distinguishing features.

Cultivation: As applied to turf, cultivation means working the soil and/or thatch without destroying the entire lawn surface; examples of cultivation include coring, slicing, spiking.

Cultural practices: Various horticultural methods and techniques used to care for plants in the yard and garden. Examples include watering, fertilizing, mowing, weeding, and edging.

Cut slope: A landscape term describing the practice of creating level areas in the landscape by cutting into a slope and adding a retaining wall. With this process, the leveled area is generally more stable than filling in to level the slope since the soil is already compacted.

Damage threshold level: The lowest amount of a pest population where unacceptable levels of damage occur. Used to determine when, if any, pesticides are applied to control a pest population.

Deadhead: Removal of spent or faded flowers to improve the plant appearance and generally ensure a longer bloom time. Typically flowers and stems should be removed to the next lowest node.

Decomposition: The rotting or decaying of a organic substance.

Deficiency (of nutrients): Growth symptoms (such as chlorosis) caused by inadequate supply or unavailability of plant nutrients.

Defoliation: Refers to the unnatural loss of plant leaves. Defoliation may occur from a variety of environmental causes, such as wind, intense heat, drought, early frost, chemicals, insects or diseases.

Deer antler damage: Seasonal injury to tree bark and branches caused by deer rubbing the velvet off their antlers. The rough bark edges and exposed inner layers of the trunk are more susceptible to disease and insects. Severe damage will kill the plant to below the injury.

Deciduous: A woody plant that sheds its leaves before winter or drought dormancy. See Herbaceous

Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D): An growth regulator type of weed killer often used for controlling broadleaf weeds in lawn areas. See phenoxy herbicides.

Dicot (short for Dicotyledonae): Plant having two cotyledons (first leaves to appear as the plant emerges from the seed) and broad, net-veined leaves usually associated with broadleaf plant species.

Decompose: Decay into nothingness.

Disease: An interaction between a grass plant, pathogen and its environment that results in abnormal growth and/or appearance.

Dormant: A condition of significantly reduced activity where little if any growth occurs and where rates of physiological activities, like photosynthesis, are minimal or non-existent.

Drainage: The horizontal movement of water across and through soil.

Drip irrigation: The slow, accurate application of water to plant root areas with a system of pipes and emitters usually operated under reduced pressure.

Drip line: The imaginary circle drawn on the soil around a tree directly under its outermost branch tips. Moisture tends to drip from the tree at this point. The term is used in connection with feeding, watering and grading around existing trees and shrubs.

Drop spreader: A spreader, used in the application of fertilizer or seeding, that distributes the material directly below the spreader through a series of small openings located at the base of the hopper. It is slower to use but can provide very precise application. Sometimes known as a gravity spreader.

Drought: Extended periods of dry weather often causing moderate to severe stress in turf. It can be particularly damaging when combined with high temperatures.

Drought tolerance: The grass plant’s ability to withstand extended periods of dry conditions with incurring permanent damage. See also tolerance.

Ecosystem (turfgrass): The interaction of a turfgrass community with other plants, animals and their surrounding environment.

Effective precipitation: Rainfall that offsets evapotranspiration losses during a given time period. Rainfall that enters the soil or remains on the foliage and is available for evapotranspiration, thereby reducing the withdrawal of soil water by the same quantity.

Efficiency standard: A value or criteria that establishes levels or conditions of water use in the ornamental landscape.

Endophyte: A plant living and functioning within another plant. For example, a fungus.

Environment: The sum of all the physical, chemical and biological components to which an organism is subjected. Soil, water, air, plants, animals, and human beings comprise the environment to which turfgrass communities are subjected.

Eradicate: To completely eliminate something from an area or the environment.

Erosion: The wearing away and transport of soil from land areas by wind or running water.

Espalier: A tree or shrub trained so that its branches grow in a flat pattern against a wall, fence, trellis, etc.

Establishment period: Length of time needed for a relocated plant to become accustomed to its new location. See Supplemental water requirements.

Establishment, turf: Continual root and shoot growth following seed germination, sodding or sprigging needed to form a mature turf area.

Ester: A phenoxy herbicide formulation that is more prone to vaporizing and potentially moving off-site than the amine form. Also see phenoxy herbicides, amine.

ET: The amount of water lost by plant foliage through transpiration and the surrounding soil through evaporation, which must be replaced by irrigation and precipitation. See Water budget.

Evaluation rating: See Research and Evaluation procedures.

Evaporation: Water loss back to the atmosphere through the vaporization of water.

Evapotranspiration: Sum of all the moisture lost through evaporation and transpiration. See ET.

Evergreen: A woody plant that never loses all its foliage at one time. Foliage is retained year-round.

Exposure: A combination of the aspect – north, south, east, west – and the protection – walls, fences, other plants – influencing a plant’s habitat. Exposure significantly influences the survival and growth behavior of a plant. See Microclimate.

Fertilize: In flowers, it refers to pollination; to fertilize a plant is to apply fertilizer.

Fertilizer analysis: The amount of each nutrient in a fertilizer container expressed as percent of the total weight.

Fertilizer burn (foliar burn): Plant injury (and usually death) caused by desiccation of tissue due to contact with high concentrations of certain fertilizers.

Fibrous roots: Profusely branched roots consisting of many lateral rootlets and usually no main or taproot development.

Fill slope: Describes the process in landscaping of leveling a slope by filling and adding retaining walls to level an area. Attention to compacting the soil in filled area is critical. See Cut slope.

Flower effect: An evaluation of the appearance of flowers on a plant. Scoring is based on, but not limited to, color, intensity, quantity, quality, size, shape and contribution to the plant as a whole. The visual effect of flowers.

Foliage: Leaves, bracts and needles.

Footprinting: During periods of mild to moderate stages of water (drought) stress, grass plants may be slow to spring back after walking on them leaving temporary foot-shaped impressions on the lawn.

Formal: As a gardening term, it is applied to flowers, methods of training plants, and styles of garden design. A formal flower would be one in which the petals are regularly overlapped. Examples of formal plant training are rigidly and geometrically structured espaliers and evenly clipped hedges. Formal gardens are those laid out in precise geometric patterns.

Foundation planting: A plant used to hide the foundation of a building.

Fungi: Organisms which live off dead or living plants or animals.

Fungicide: A pesticide used to destroy or suppress fungi.

Fungus: (pl. fungi) A non-vascular (i.e., plants that do not contain water and nutrient conducting vessels) plant that lacks chlorophyll. Some examples are: mushrooms, molds, rusts, and yeasts.

Genus pl. Genera: The smallest natural group containing related but distinct species. See Species and Classification.

Germination: Sprouting of the root and shoot from a seed when environmental conditions are favorable.

Grading: The process of adjusting the slope in a landscape area. Grading is “rough” to attain the general desired slope for drainage and “fine” to smooth out the surface for hardscape and plant materials.

Granular: Pesticide or fertilizer formulations in which the active ingredient or nutrient is attached to small, dry particles of some inert carrier such as clay or ground corn cobs.

Grass: A common name for members of the Grass (Gramineae) family of plants.

Groundbark: The bark of trees shredded or ground up for use as mulch.

Groundcover: A horticultural term applied to low-growing vegetation covering the ground; usually refers to broadleaf plants rather than lawn grasses.

Groundwater: Underground water found in porous rock strata or soils.

Guaranteed analysis: The guaranteed minimum amount of plant nutrients contained in a fertilizer product.

Habit: The overall shape or appearance of a plant.

Hardiness: The genetic capability of a plant to adapt and survive the rigors of a particular climate, particularly to cold temperature stress.

Hardening-off (conditioning): The process of conditioning plants to more stressful environmental conditions.

Hedge: A grouping of plants that forms a wall or screen. A hedge acts as a physical or visual barrier.

Herbaceous: A plant whose stems and leaves die to the ground each year. All nonwoody plants including bulbs, rhizomes, corms, tubers, annuals and herbaceous perennials.

Herbaceous perennial: A plant whose stems and leaves die to the ground each year and regrows stems and foliage the following growing season. See Perennial.

Herbicide: A specific category of pesticides used for controlling weeds.

High-maintenance lawn: Lawn areas composed of turfgrass species and varieties requiring higher levels of water, fertilizing and mowing to remain healthy.

Hopper-burn: The bronzing of leaves caused by leafhoppers injecting toxins into the leaf while feeding.

Host plant: Any plant that provides nutrition (and possibly shelter) for a plant pest to survive. That is, any plant that an insect or pathogen lives on is a host plant.

Humus distinguished: The organic fraction of soil where, due to decomposition, the original parent material form can no longer be identified.

Hydrozone: A landscape area or portion of a landscape area having plants with similar water requirements. The area may or may not require irrigation. Also referred to as water zone.

Impervious (surfaces): Waterproof coverings that do not permit infiltration of water and that increase the volume and speed of runoff water. Examples include: roofs, parking lots, roads and driveways.

Incomplete metamorphosis: The life cycle of an insect going through the stages of egg and nymph to reach the adult stage. The nymph resembles the adult and progresses through several molts before reaching the adult stage. There is no pupa stage in this type of metamorphosis.

Indigenous Plants: Plants native to an area and biome. Also referred to as Native Plants. See Naturalized plants.

Inert: Not active.

Inert ingredients: Materials in a pesticide or fertilizer formulation that have no activity in creating the desired effect of the product. Many serve as binding agents or carriers for the active ingredients such that they can be applied efficiently and uniformly.

Infection: Establishment of a pathogen within a host plant.

Infiltration (water): The physical process of water movement into a soil.

Inflorescence: The part of the plant having more than one flower; a general term used to describe the arrangement of the flowers. See Panicle, Raceme and Spike.

Inorganic (fertilizer): Products used for supplying nutrients to a lawn; generally composed of simple, mostly water soluble nutrient salts that are immediately available for plant use following post-application watering.

Insecticide: A specific category of pesticides used for controlling insects.

Introduced plant: A plant imported from another region. Survival depends on a similar climate or has the ability to adapt to the new climate.

Irrigation: The use of automated or manual systems for applying supplemental water for the benefit of growing plants and replenishing soil moisture.

Irrigation efficiency: The ratio of the volume of water required for a specific beneficial use as compared to the volume of water delivered for this purpose. Commonly interpreted as the volume of water stored in the soil for evapotranspiration compared to the volume of water delivered for this purpose. See Water budget.

Label: A printed statement attached to the pesticide or fertilizer container by the manufacturer listing the contents, directions for use, and precautions. A pesticide label is considered a legal document that is approved and registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Agriculture.

Landscape: An expanse of land (scenery) that the eye is able to comprehend as a single view.

Larva: The immature or worm stage (e.g., caterpillars, maggots, and grubs) of an insect that goes through 4 distinct lifecycle stages (i.e., egg, larva, pupa, adult) in its development. (See complete metamorphosis).

Lawn: That portion of a yard or land area covered with grass plants kept short through mowing.

Leaching: The downward movement in water of pesticides and/or nutrients through the soil column.

Leader: A main stem of a plant from which laterals are produced; a shoot growing at the apex of a stem or main branch.

Leaf mold: Partially decomposed leaves that may be dug into the soil as an organic amendment.

Leaf-cutter bee: A solitary bee, resembling a honeybee, with strong jaws used for “cutting” leaves. Females cut round holes in the leaf, rolling cigar-shaped pieces to deposit eggs.

Leafhopper: A small (up to one-third of an inch) insect that sucks the juice from leaves, injecting toxins as it feeds, causing them to discolor, curl and turn brittle. Damage is often referred to as “hopper burn.” Weakened plants may become diseased and die.

Leggy: The over extension of stems between nodes, often caused by the plant “stretching” toward sufficient light and/or over fertilization.

Life zone: Attitudinal or latitudinal biotic regions with distinctive flora and fauna, characterized by plant and animal biomes. See Biome.

Light soil: A term sometimes used to describe a soil with large particles loosely packed together. See Sandy soil.

Lime compounds: Mostly of calcium carbonates and other alkaline substances. Used in high rainfall climates to correct soil acidity problems.

Liquid fertilization: A method of applying plant nutrients as a solution of dissolved fertilizer salts.

Lodging: A malady in which plant stems fall over and turn brown.

Long-day response: Usually applied to plants in which flowering is hastened by daily exposure to light periods longer than a critical number of hours.

Low-maintenance lawn: Lawn areas composed of turfgrass species and varieties tolerant of reduced levels of water, fertilizer and mowing while still remaining healthy.

Manure: Animal excrement in varying stages of decomposition. Manure should be aged for landscape use. Fresh manure is high in nitrogen and can have a high salt content, which can harm plant roots.

Mass planting: Grouping of several of the same or similar plants to create a desired effect. Mass planting is used to create microclimates, define outdoor space, form a backdrop for foreground plantings or screen views.

Meadow: In geologic terms, a meadow is a lake that has filled with silt. In general landscape terms, a meadow has come to refer to a level, open space with mixed grasses and perennial flowers.

Metamorphosis: A basic change in form; for example, the changing of a grub to an adult beetle or caterpillar into an adult butterfly.

Microbial: Effects associated with the action or influence of microorganisms.

Microclimate: An area influenced by natural or manmade features that alter the climatic conditions from the general regional climate. The climate alterations may include but are not limited to changes in temperature range, wind exposure, reflected light, shelterbelts and precipitation rates. See Exposure, Reflected light and Shelterbelt.

Microorganisms: Living plants or animals (such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoa) that are so small they can be seen only with the aid of a microscope.

Mildew: A group of diseases caused by fungi and characterized by a white powder-like substance on the leaves. Often caused by poor air circulation around the plant or plants.

Minerals: The inorganic materials that make up a portion of the soil derived from rocks; they are usually of specific composition and crystalline in form.

Mixture: As applied to turfgrasses, it is a combination of two or more plant species. For example, a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and fine-leaved fescue seed.

Molt: To shed or cast off (such as skin, hair or feathers) followed by replacement through continued growth. Molting is often associated with the changes from immature to mature stages among the various insect groups.

Monocot (short for Monocotyledonae): A class of seed plants distinguished by such plant features as narrow, parallel-veined leaves, fibrous root systems, seeds containing only one cotyledon (seed leaf). Grass plants are a common example.

Mountain peat: A sedge peat with no soil structure that can be detrimental to plant growth. In addition, the process of mining this peat endangers many rare plants and entire ecosystems.

Mowing: The periodic and usually regular cutting of a lawn area to a specified height for its intended use and function. Accomplished with mowers, either manual or power operated.

Muck: Soil-like material developed in a swamp-like environment, composed largely of well decomposed organic materials (humus).

Mulch: Non-living material used to cover the soil surface for purposes of controlling weeds, conserving moisture, reducing soil temperatures, and in some instances, improving appearance. Examples are woodchips, compost, and leaves.

Mulching mower: Mowers specifically designed to finely chop grass clippings and forcibly direct them back into the lawn leaving a clean, uniform appearance to the surface.

Native plants: Plants originally from the area. Also referred to as Indigenous Plants.

Natural: The world of living things, material objects, and the forces and process which guide and shape living and nonliving things.

Natural growth cycle (turf): The sequence of grass root, shoot and flowering growth phases that occur naturally over the course of a growing season.

Natural organic nitrogen fertilizer: A fertilizer product containing plant nutrients derived from various organic sources as contrasted with simpler inorganic sources. Common sources include composts, sludges, animal manures and various plant and animal processing by-products.

Naturalized plants: Plants introduced from another locality, but thoroughly established in the area. Many plants that are thought to be native are in fact naturalized. Many weeds are naturalized plants. See Indigenous plants and Native plants.

Naturalistic planting: Refers generally to the arrangement of plants and plant selection. Naturalistic plantings are characterized by groupings and forms reflecting how plants would grow in an undisturbed environment.

Net weight (fertilizers): The actual weight of only the fertilizer nutrients contained in a package of fertilizer.

Nitrogen: An essential nutrient required for plant growth. It is a significant component of plant proteins. Adequate nitrogen produces good green color and vigorous plants. Shortages of nitrogen are usually indicated by yellowing leaves and poor growth. Excess nitrogen can result in unhealthy, lush growth making the plants more vulnerable to environmental stresses such as heat, drought, frost and, increased disease susceptibility.

Non-Alkali soil: Acid soil with a pH below seven. See Acid/Alkaline soil.

Non-selective: A term applied to a category of herbicides that does not discriminate in its effect on one type of plant over another. For example, both grasses and broadleaf plants would be injured or killed as opposed to selectively killing broadleaf plants without affecting the grasses in a lawn area.

Nontarget organism: Plants (or other organisms) other than those attempted to be controlled by an application of a pesticide.

Noxious (weed): Any plant declared by a state authority to be so objectionable that efforts will be directed at its eradication.

N-P-K: Chemical symbols for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). On a container of fertilizer, these nutrients are always expressed as percentages contained in the package and are always shown in the order N-P-K.

Nutrients (plant): Mineral elements considered essential for plant growth. There are presently 16 minerals known to play essential roles in plant nutrition.

Nutrient release rate: The speed at which plant nutrients, especially N, become available for plant use following application to a lawn. This rate is often determined by the product, water and temperature conditions at the time of application.

Nymph: The immature stage between the egg and adult of some insect groups; nymphs look like the mature adult in form but do not have fully developed wings and are not able to reproduce.

On center: Industry-standardized term referring to the distance or spacing between the center most point of each plant.

Organic: Chemical compounds containing the element carbon other than the inorganic carbonates. Often refers to any part of, or anything produced by, plants or animals.

Organic matter (soil): A portion of the soil consisting of substances derived from the life and death of plants, plant parts and other soil organisms.

Overseed or overseeding: The process of incorporating seed into an existing lawn area for the purpose of lawn repair or introduction of different grass species.

Panicle: Generally used to describe any branching type of flowers. Specifically it is an inflorescence in which the flowers are formed on stalks (peduncles) arising alternately or spirally from the main axis. Each stalk is a raceme. See Inflorescence and Raceme.

Particulate: Used as a characterization of very tiny pieces (particles) of matter, (e.g., dust and soil).

Patch disease: A non-specific term applied to small dead, circular areas in a lawn caused by a number of different pathogens. Symptoms may also include the appearance of dead rings of grass with green grass inside and outside of the ring.

Pathogen (plant): Usually applied to a microorganism with the capacity to cause a plant disease.

Peat: A partly decomposed plant material found in marshy areas. Identification or origination of parent plant material may still be possible (e.g., sphagnum peat moss).

Perennial: Plants that live two or more years producing flowers and seeds in successive years.

Permeable: Allowing water or other substances to pass through or infiltrate (e.g., a permeable surface such as a lawn).

Pest (plant): Any insect, mite, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or other organism capable of causing plant stress, injury or death through disease, consumption of the plant or competition.

Pesticide: Any chemical (or mixture of chemicals) or biological agent used to control plant or animal pests in order to protect and/or preserve desirable plants.

Petiole: The leaf stalk.

pH (soil): A numerical measure of soil acidity or alkalinity based on the hydrogen ion (H+) concentration in the soil. A pH of 7 indicates neutral conditions (neither acidic or alkaline); above 7 is basic (alkaline), below 7 is acidic.

Phenoxy-type herbicides: A category of systemic weed killers that have a chemical structure composed of six carbon atoms joined together in a ring formation. Two examples are 2,4-D and mecoprop (MCPP).

Phosphorous: One of the major plant nutrients; important in root growth and plant energy functions. The middle number of a fertilizer analysis N-P-K.

Photosynthesis: The chemical plant process where carbohydrates are formed by combining carbon dioxide and water in the presence of light; occurs in the chlorophyll containing parts of the plant (i.e., leaves and stems).

Plant competition: The interaction between plants for light, moisture, and soil nutrients.

Pollination: The transfer of pollen from the stamen (male portion of the flower) to the stigma (female portion of the flower). May occur within the same flower, different flowers on the same plant or different flowers on different plants.

Pollution: The process of contaminating air, water or land with impurities to an undesirable level; results in decreased benefits from the environment.

Polymer crystals: Inorganic soil additives that retain a significant quantity of water, thereby making moisture available for future use by the surrounding vegetation.

Postemergence: Generally refers to the application of an herbicide after the weed has emerged (and is usually visible) from the soil.

Potassium: One of the major plant nutrients important in maintaining general plant health and vigor. Often associated with improved stress and disease tolerance. It is the third number in the fertilizer analysis N-P-K. See N-P-K.

Precipitation rate: Amount of water applied by an irrigation system measured in inches per area or gallons per area.

Preemergence: Generally refers to the application of an herbicide before the weed emerges from the soil. Target plants are most often not visible above ground at the time of application.

Pupa: The resting or transforming stage of an insect that goes through four lifecycle stages (i.e., egg, larva, pupa, adult) in its development.

Pure live seed (PLS): A seed lot’s percentage of seed that is pure and viable.

Purity: The degree of cleanliness or freedom (expressed as a percentage) from weed and other crop seeds.

Quick-release nitrogen source: Nitrogen from these sources is available for use by the plant as soon as water is applied and the fertilizer granule dissolves. Can also be applied in liquid formulations. Plant responds with quick green-up and rapid rates of growth.

Raceme: A flower head on which individual flowers are carried on short stems of approximately equal length and borne on an unbranched main stalk.

Reclaimed water: Treated, recycled wastewater not safe for consumption. Also known as non-potable water.

Recuperative capacity: The ability of turfgrasses to recover from damage. It is an important consideration when determining grass selection for high use areas such as sports fields.

Reel mower: A mower that cuts grass by means of a rotating reel of blades passing over a fixed blade (called a bedknife) attached to the frame. Very uniform, clean cuts can be made with this type of mower.

Reflected light: Light that reaches a plant after bouncing off surrounding surfaces. See Microclimate.

Rejuvenation: Stimulation of grass growth usually through the removal of thatch and may include the process of aerification to improve compacted soil conditions.

Renovation, turf: Improving a stand of turf through replanting into an existing lawn area. May also include practices associated with rejuvenation.

Rhizome: An elongated underground stem with scale-like leaves and adventitious roots originating from the nodes (bud containing areas along a stem).

Rhizomatous: A spreading growth habit resulting from the production and elongation of rhizomes.

Rock garden: In landscape terms, a garden with rock outcroppings, low-growing groundcovers and perennials. Rock garden plants generally prefer the hot, dry conditions produced by the surrounding rocks.

Root: The fibrous, underground part of a plant associated with mineral and water absorption.

Root zone: That portion of the soil column occupied by plant roots.

Rotary mower: A mower that cuts turf by a high-speed, rotating metal blade positioned parallel to, and at a desired height above the turf surface.

Rotary spreader: A spreader, most often used in the application of fertilizer, that distributes the material in an arc, several feet wide, by means of a rotating disc below the fertilizer hopper. It is able to cover large areas quickly, but distribution may not be precise enough for some applications.

Rototilling: The process of working (tilling) the soil utilizing a machine known as a rototiller. The machine utilizes a series of vertically rotating tines (blades) mounted on either the front or rear of the machine. It is capable of penetrating 6 to 8 inches into the soil.

Runner: A slender stem sent out from the base of certain perennials from which a new plant forms. An example is strawberry.

Saline soil: Soil containing soluble salts in such quantities that it can interfere with plant growth.

Sandy soil: Determined by particle size. Sandy soils have large particles, are loosely arranged, and do not hold water.

Scalping: An undesirable mowing practice that removes an excessive amount of green leaves and shoots at any one mowing. It can seriously weaken or even kill the turfgrass.

Sediment: Any material settling to the bottom of a liquid. Its usage in this section refers to any material carried in runoff water that, upon reaching a body of water, settles to the bottom.

Sedimentation: The process of depositing sediment; generally referring to the depositing of sediment in a water body such as a lake or river. Also see sediment.

Seed: A ripened ovule containing an embryo capable of producing a new plant.

Seed count: The actual number of seeds of a particular species or variety contained in a seed blend or mixture.

Seed weight: The actual weight of seeds from a particular species or variety contained in seed blend or mixture. Expressed as a percent of the total weight.

Seeding: The process of distributing seed over the soil surface, either mechanically or by hand, in an attempt to establish a new lawn or renovate an existing lawn.

Selective: The term usually applied to an herbicide that has the ability to only destroy one type of plant while not affecting others. For example, a postemergence, broadleaf herbicide will kill broadleaf plants (such as dandelions) in the lawn without affecting the grass plants.

Semi-arid climate: A climate characterized by 10 inches to 20 inches of annual rainfall.

Shade: An area of reduced light quantity (and often quality) resulting from the partial or complete obstruction of direct sunlight.

Sheath: The tube shaped, basal section of the grass leaf enclosing the stem.

Shelterbelt: Trees and/or shrubs planted in rows or groups to provide shelter and act as a windbreak to protect crops or ornamental plants. A shelterbelt needs to be dense at the bottom to produce a good effect, as wind is blocked three feet from the bottom of the plants for every foot in height of the shelterbelt. See Microclimate.

Shoot: Above ground, vertically oriented growth giving rise to both leafy growth and flowering stems (culms).

Shoot density: The number of shoots contained in a specified area of lawn.

Short-day response: Usually applied to plants where flowering is hastened by daily exposure to light shorter than a specified number of hours.

Slit-seeding: The use of a machine known as a slit-seeder to seed a new lawn area or over seed an existing area. Slit-seeders utilize a series of vertically rotating discs to cut small grooves into the soil while depositing seed into the grooves just behind the discs. It is an excellent means of seeding and helps insure the seed-to-soil contact necessary for successful establishment.

Sloughing-off: The periodic shedding of plant parts. As used here, it refers to the periodic shedding of turfgrass roots as either part of the natural growth cycle, or as a result of environmental stresses.

Slow-release nitrogen source: Nitrogen from these sources becomes available as the product is broken down by soil microbes and/or chemical action. Plant responds with a slightly slower rate of green-up and growth. Usually this is a desirable characteristic.

Sod: Squares or strips (rolls) of turfgrass cut from a production field and usually with a thin layer of soil still attached that is used for vegetatively installing a turfgrass area.

Sod cutter: An machine or hand tool that is designed to cut the grass plus a thin layer of soil from the ground. The length and thickness of the cut sod can be varied.

Sodding: Installing a turfgrass area utilizing sod.

Soil: The earth’s thin upper layer capable of supporting plant growth. It is characterized by such things as texture, structure, color, and fertility which distinguishes it from material like gravel, sand or bedrock that also cover a portion of the earth’s surface.

Soil amendment: Organic and inorganic materials added to soil to improve texture, nutrients, moisture-holding capacity and infiltration rates.

Soil compaction: Compression of soil that eliminates air pockets from the soil structure, resulting in the suffocation of the plant roots. Soil compaction may be caused by ongoing pedestrian traffic, one time or ongoing vehicular traffic, construction equipment or storage of materials.

Soil structure: The combining of microscopic soil particles through the action of soil microbes into larger units commonly known as soil granules, crumbs or aggregates. Loose, crumbly soil structure is a must to sustain health plant growth.

Soil test: A scientific analysis of a soil sample that determines its pH, texture, organic matter content and various degrees of chemical composition. They are used to assess a soil’s suitability for particular uses and any necessary modifications to prepare it for the intended use.

Soluble (fertilizer): Fertilizers that are made up of easily dissolved components in water which are immediately available for plant use; they can result in lawn “burning” more easily that slow-release fertilizers.

Species: A basic identification unit used in biology to describe a single distinct kind of plant or animal that has certain distinguishing characteristics separating it from all others.

Specimen: A superb or unique plant; a plant with special qualities that would warrant its use individually in such a way to display those qualities.

Sphagnum peat: Commonly sold under the name “Peat moss.”

Spike: A grouping of flowers consisting of a central stalk with flowers directly attached.

Spittlebug: Young nymphs cover themselves with a white frothy mass of “spittle” and may relocate on a plant several times before reaching adulthood. Adults resemble leafhoppers. Both feed on the sap of twigs and foliage

Spot treatment: Generally refers to the application of a pesticide to a limited or small area. In the case of herbicides, it may also be applied to the treating of individual plants.

Spreader: A piece of equipment used for seeding and fertilizing. It may be machine driven, pushed by hand or hand-held.

Spreading: The application of grass seed or fertilizer to soil or existing lawns usually by some form of a spreader.

Standard: Generally, a single, upright stem topped by a rounded crown of foliage.

Stem: The horizontal or vertical axis of a plant supporting leaves, buds and flowers.

Stolon: An elongated stem growing along the ground surface and giving rise to leaves and adventitious roots at the nodes (bud containing areas along a stem).

Stoloniferous: A spreading growth habit resulting from the production and elongation of stolons.

Storm sewer system: A system of ground level inlets (usually covered with some type of steel grate) designed to intercept storm water runoff from the adjacent land areas and channel it below ground to a system of interconnected pipes that eventually empty into wetlands, lakes, rivers, streams or other designated storm water holding areas.

Storm water runoff: Rain water that cannot soak into soil and runs over surfaces such as streets, driveways and rooftops. Storm water runoff picks up pollutants as it moves.

Stress (plant): Usually applied to environmental factors restricting normal or healthy plant growth. Some of these factors are heat, drought, compacted soils, waterlogging and cold.

Structural planting: Those plants that form the structure for outdoor spaces, such as trees, shrubs and plant masses.

Sucker: A strong, vertical shoot growing from below ground, often rising from the root.

Summer dormancy: Growth stoppage and subsequent death of leaf tissue of certain cool-season grass species due to heat and/or moisture stress. Except in extreme conditions, the crown remains alive and begins regrowth when favorable growing conditions return.

Supplemental water requirements: Application of water in addition to natural precipitation needed to maintain the optimum health and appearance of landscape plantings. See Water budget.

Sustainable (lawn): A lawn area requiring few outside inputs (e.g., water, fertilizer) to maintain healthy grass while having a positive impact on the environment (e.g., preventing soil erosion).

Swale: A depression in grading used to carry water; a man-made “river” used to drain a site. To prevent erosion, a swale is often lined with riprap, or native grasses. A functional and ornamental swale is called a dry stream.

Symptom: An abnormal condition in the form or function of a plant or part of a plant that helps identify the disorder.

Synthetic organic nitrogen fertilizer: Generally refers to fertilizers formed when urea, a quick-release N fertilizer source, is further processed or combined with other materials to give it a slow-release rate characteristic.

Syringe: Usually a term referring to the application of small amounts of water to turf to help dissipate heat energy from the plants by evaporating water from the leaf surface. Often done during the hot portions of the day.

Systemic: Any chemical absorbed into a plant’s system. There are systemic insecticides, fungicides and weed killers.

Taproot: The main root growing straight down, like the root of a carrot.

Tender: Denotes a low tolerance of freezing temperatures.

Terminal branches/growth: The branches at the uppermost or outermost reaches of the plant where growth originates.

Texture (grass): The coarseness or fineness of a turfgrass generally based on the grass blade width and the stem size.

Texture (soil): The relative proportion (expressed as a percent) of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil; determines soil coarseness or fineness.

Thatch: A dense, fibrous layer of living and dead grass stems, leaves, and roots, undecomposed or partially decomposed, that accumulates between the green vegetation and soil surface.

Tiller: A lateral shoot, usually erect, that develops from axillary buds in the crown.

Tolerance: The plant’s ability to withstand stresses associated with unfavorable environmental conditions or the application of pesticides.

Topsoil: The upper portion of soil that is generally higher in organic matter in comparison to the subsoil and usually has more favorable characteristics of soil fertility, aeration and structure.

Transpiration: Water loss that occurs through the open plant stomata (tiny pores primarily on the underside of the leaf). Rate of loss is determined by wind and atmospheric humidity conditions.

Transplant shock and recovery: The adverse impact of digging, relocating and replanting, including plants from a planting container or balled and burlap stock, on a plant’s overall health and the length of time until it resumes normal growth. Although smaller plant material does not provide immediate impact in the new landscape, it is less affected by relocation and resumes normal growth much sooner than larger plant material. See Establishment period.

Tree spade: Specialized motorized equipment to dig and usually transport trees. Tree spades come in a variety of sizes appropriate to different sizes and species of trees. Generally deciduous trees require a nine-inch root ball for each inch of trunk caliper; evergreens require an eight-inch root ball for each inch of trunk caliper. See Caliber, Transplant shock and recovery.

Tuber: Swollen underground stem. A potato.

Tuberous roots: Thickened underground food storage structure. Actually a root rather than a true tuber. The dahlia is an example.

Turf: A soil covering of mowed vegetation, usually a turfgrass.

Turfgrass: A species or cultivar of grass that is maintained at a desired height through regular mowing.

Underplanting: Planting one plant beneath another, as in ground cover beneath a tree.

Urea: A quick-release nitrogen fertilizer source. Usually available as 45-0-0 or 46-0-0. It is also described as a synthetic organic fertilizer as it contains the element carbon in its chemical structure.

USDA Plant Zone: National industry standard for classification of plant hardiness in climatic zones defined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Site-specific characteristics greatly influence which plants will survive in a certain location.

Variety: A population of plants having many characteristics in common; a variety may be a pure line, a mixture of pure lines, or a clone.

Vertical mower: A machine with high-speed, vertically rotating blades that slice into the turf for the purpose of reducing thatch or improving soil aeration.

Vigor (plant): The combination of genetic and environmental factors that determine the rate and amount that a turfgrass species or cultivar is able to grow and spread.

Warm-season turfgrass: Turfgrass species whose optimum growth occurs during the warmer periods (80º – 95º F) of the growing season.

Water insoluble nitrogen (WIN): That fraction of nitrogen contained in fertilizer not considered to soluble in 25o C. water. It is generally a measure of how much of the nitrogen is considered to show the slow release characteristic.

Water requirement: Water lost from the soil around a plant’s roots due to evapotranspiration.

Water-soluble nitrogen (WSN): That fraction of nitrogen contained in fertilizer considered to be soluble in 25o C. water. It is generally a measure of the quick-release nitrogen contained in the fertilizer. Unlike WIN this is usually not expressed on a fertilizer package. Unless stated otherwise, the difference between the WIN and total nitrogen contained in the package is WSN.

Watering-in: Water applied to turf immediately after the application of some pesticides or fertilizers to dissolve and/or move materials into the soil.

Waterlogging: Soil saturated with water usually for an extended period of time and resulting in temporary anaerobic conditions.

Water zone: See Hydrozone.

Wear: The accumulative (and usually deleterious) effects of traffic on a turf area. Most often a problem on sports fields.

Weed: An undesired, uncultivated plant growing in a manner so as to adversely compete with desirable plants for water, light and nutrients, or destroy aesthetic qualities of a lawn.

Winter interest: Plants that provide texture, color or other visual effects through leaves, fruit, bark charecteristics and other means that enliven the winter landscape.

Xeriscape: Xeriscape is an attractive, sustainable landscape that conserves water and is based on sound horticultural practices. The term is trademarked by Denver Water.

Zone: See Water Zone, USDA Plant Zone and Life Zone.

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